The prospect of a rain affected track is not expected to dampen the chances of Savacool in the Group 1 $500,000 Schweppes Oaks (Australasian Oaks) (2000m) at Morphettville on Saturday.
Think Bleue, above in maroon and white colours, is one of three Darren Weir trained fillies in the Australasian Oaks at Morphettville. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
The Morphettville track was rated a Good 4 on Thursday afternoon but the Bureau of Meteorology has forecast wet conditions in the lead up to the weekend.
Savacool is one of two runners from the Chris Waller stable to go around in the Australasian Oaks and part owner Peter Tighe said that the Savabeel filly handled the wet conditions okay last start in winning a 1600m three year old Handicap at Caulfield on April 14.
“There was a big shower of rain when she ran at Caulfield last time and it didn’t seem to worry her. She ploughed through it pretty well, so I think she’ll be OK if it’s a bit wet on Saturday,” Tighe told The Advertiser.
Waller won the Australasian Oaks last year with Egg Tart and has set Savacool on a similar course this year in the run up to the 2000m Classic for the fillies.
Egg Tart raced in Sydney before having her final Australasian Oaks lead up run with a win at Flemington over 1600m and Savacool has also landed in Adelaide via Melbourne.
The lightly raced Savacool is a winner of three of her six race starts and Tighe has full confidence in Waller getting her prepared to tackle her Group 1 assignment.
“She’s a bit of an unknown quantity but she’s done everything we’ve asked of her so far,” Tighe said.
“Chris has a pretty good template from what he did last year with Egg Tart.
“I think she’s ready to run a good race.”
Damien Oliver takes over the reins from Regan Bayliss on Savacool who has drawn barrier eleven in the fifteen horse Australasian Oaks field while Waller’s other runner Velocita will jump from gate three with Stephen Baster in the saddle.
The Darren Weir trained Sopressa sits at the top of the market order at $4.80 with Ladbrokes.com.au just ahead of Savacool at $5 and Think Bleue at $6.50.
Sopressa is one of three Weir runners in the Australasian Oaks and has drawn the rails for Harry Coffey while her stablemate Think Bleue will have to jump from the extreme outside alley with John Allen to ride.
Weir’s third runner, Pleasuring, is marked as a $16 chance and has drawn in the middle of the pack at barrier eight with Damian Lane booked to ride.
